it would also protect safety net programs and domestic priorities like education from cuts sought by house republicans yesterday. meanwhile, as our nbc news first read team notes, guns and immigration are set to take center stage when congress gets back next month after a two-week recess on. gun control, senate majority leader harry reid is demanding any bill passes the senate must include universal background checks. that come after announcing a ban on assault weapons would be stripped from the bill because there's not enough support and it might doom the whole measure. meanwhile, there is plenty of bipartisan support for immigration reform. however, there is still no bill. april ryan is the white house correspondent. and chris is a democratic strategist. good to see both of you. gun control sure to be the most contentious issue. universal gun checks, increased penalty for purchase and grants for school safety. why cannot we get a ban on assault weapons? why cannot we get a ban on high capacity ammunition clips and poll after poll shows the lion's share of folk in this country want